A conversation with Mr. Thomas J. Barrack, Jr., executive chairman of Colony NorthStar and a longtime friend and advisor to President Donald Trump. Please note: this discussion is off the record.

Tom Barrack, who lives in Los Angeles, has known Donald Trump for more than 30 years and serves as an unofficial advisor to the president. He is the chairman and CEO of Colony NorthStar, an investment firm with more than $60 billion in assets, much of it for clients in the Middle East. His extensive business background in the Middle East has allowed him to influence President Trump’s strategies in the region.

What is the state of U.S. relations with nations in the Middle East? What is Barrack’s take on President Trump’s first year in office?